The British Government today fired the first shots in what could be a bitter trade war with this country if there is a hard Brexit.

Ireland could face economic devastation with agriculture taking the biggest hit after the UK announced planned tariffs of up to 40% on products being exported from the Republic to the UK.

The Tanaiste confirmed that any British tariffs on agricultural trade between the two countries would be very damaging to the Irish economy.

There are also growing fears that the tariff plans are aimed to put pressure on the Irish Government to abandon the backstop which would allow Theresa May’s Withdrawal Agreement to pass at a third time of asking.

Parts of the North could again become “bandit country” and a smuggler’s paradise with hauliers warning of a “Wild West” situation.

The British government outlined its temporary no-deal plans today, stating that no import tariffs would apply to goods entering Northern Ireland across the Irish border.

But tariffs of up to 40% in some cases are planned for products being exported directly from the Republic to the UK.

Tanaiste Simon Coveney said: “The announcement by the British government of a tariff regime has very devastating implications for Irish farming, particularly in the beef, dairy poultry and pork sector.

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“It would devastate the rural Irish economy, and up to €800million would be the cost to agriculture alone.”

He added: “The crisis here, the problem here and the uncertainty linked to Brexit all emanate from an inability of the British Parliament to be able to give a clear signal through majority support on what they’re willing to support and ratify.

“We will continue to advocate for a sensible deal that emerged after two-and-a-half years of negotiation that solves many of these problems.

“The solidarity is clear. There is no pressure on Ireland to change our approach in relation to the Withdrawal Agreement, the Irish protocol in it or indeed the backstop in all of its detail.

“The pressure is in London. That is where the crisis is emanating from and that is where we need to see solutions emerge from.”

Britain yesterday announced it will not will not introduce any new checks or controls on goods moving across the land border into the North if there is a hard Brexit.

But under what is supposed to be a temporary arrangement EU goods arriving from the South will not be hit with tariffs.

On the other hand if exporters here want to send their goods directly to the UK through the ferry ports they will be subject to heavy tariffs.

It is unclear how the British authorities would stop these exporters sending their products by road across the border and on to the UK via Scotland to avoid the tariffs.

Sinn Fein’s Brexit spokesman described the move as “fantasy politics” which would prove unworkable.

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David Cullinane said: “What we have seen from the British Government this morning is more fantasy politics. They are presenting unworkable solutions just two weeks out from Brexit day.

“On the one hand, they are seeking to undermine the legal protections for Ireland in the form of the backstop while putting forward impractical and unworkable solutions on the other hand.

“Let’s be very clear, this is more of the blame game by the British government.

“They are again cynically using the border and Ireland’s unique circumstances to shift responsibility for their Brexit mess to the EU and the Irish government.”

The timing of the tariffs is seen as significant as they were supposed to be announced last week but delayed until yesterday when the Taoiseach and most Irish cabinet ministers are scattered around the world at St Patrick’s Day events.

They also come just ahead of next weeks European Council summit where there could be increased pressure on Ireland to relent on the backstop.